LEAVES. 
71 
Entire , when the margin has no teeth or notches of any kind, as in the 
Lily. 
Spinose, or prickly, as in the Thistle. 
Ciliate, or fringed with hairs. 
Dentate , having teeth. 
Serrate, having teeth like a saw, all pointing towards the summit of the 
leaf. 
The Surfaces of leaves are also very different, they are, 
Hairy, having distinct strait hairs. 
Downy, covered with fine cotton-like down. 
Silky, covered with soft close-pressed hairs. 
Bristly, having still' hairs. 
Nerved, fibres running from the base to the point. 
Veined, having fibres variously branched. 
Punctate, or dotted, appearing, when held to the light, as if pricked with 
a pin. 
Plaited, folded like a fan. 
Coloured, this term is applied to all leaves that are not green, as the 
Beet. 
LEAVES WITH RESPECT TO MAGNITUDE. 
Leaves vary in size, from the small leaves of some of the 
forest-trees of our climate, to the spreading Palms and Bananas 
of the torrid zone. As we approach the torrid zone, the leaves 
increase in magnitude ; we can, however, scarcely credit the 
reports of travellers, who say, that the Talipot tree, in the Isl- 
and of Ceylon, produces leaves of such size, that twenty persons 
may be sheltered by one single leaf. Although this account 
may be exaggerated, there is no doubt of the general fact, that 
the leaves of the torrid zone are of a wonderful size ; and that 
whole families can make their habitations under the branches of 
these trees. Here we see the care of that ever kind providence, 
which, in countries parched the greater part of the year by a 
vertical sun, has formed such refreshing shelters. 
Mungo Park, in his travels in Africa, remarks upon the many 
important uses of palm leaves ; serving as coverings to cottages, 
as baskets for holding fruit, and umbrellas for defence against 
rain or sun. These leaves are a good substitute for paper, and 
were by the eastern nations so used. Many suppose that the 
scriptures of the Old Testament were originally committed to 
palm leaves. 
The magnitude of leaves often bears no proportion to the size 
of the plants to which they belong. The oak, and other forest 
trees, bear leaves, which appear very diminutive when com- 
pared with the cabbage, or burdock. 
Leaves, with respect to Duration , are, 
Surfaces — Magnitude — Palm-leaves — Leaves not corresponding in mag- 
nitude to the size of the plant — Duration. 
